Abstract

Carcinoid tumors involving the Ampulla of Vater are very rare lesions which may result in painless jaundice. The preoperative diagnosis of a carcinoid tumor is difficult because the carcinoid tumor of the Ampulla of Vater is frequently located in the submucosa and rarely presents an ulcerative lesion on the surface mucosa. In contrast to patients with intestinal carcinoid tumors, patients with carcinoid tumor of the Ampulla of Vater are frequently free of clinical and laboratory findings that hint to the carcinoid syndrome. The natural history of this disease entity has not been well established; however, the prognosis is generally believed to be good. In this study, we report a case of a carcinoid tumor of the Ampulla of Vater with an ulcerative lesion, which was diagnosed preoperatively and treated by surgical excision. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2008;36:187-191)

• Keywords: Carcinoid tumor, Ampulla of Vater